US restaurants concerned over sales losses due to capacity constraints

A survey of 2,500 US consumers conducted this month found that three-quarters planned to avoid restaurants or dine out less frequently, according to Wall Street firm Cowen

Though dining rooms across the US are reopening and some customers are returning, restaurants have expressed concern regarding sales losses because of capacity constraints imposed to contain the new coronavirus.

According to the Wall Street Journal, restaurants are trying to figure out how to run at a fraction of that capacity.

"This business model is fundamentally altered," said John Cywinski, president of Applebee's, which was on the path to opening new stores for the first time in years before the crisis hit. Across the restaurant industry, he said, "There will be a likely contraction as a result of this."

Even as restaurants reopen,